For Gomez it is a heartbreaking loss: the senseless murder of lifelong friend, 28-year-old Adam Garcia. "A beautiful person with everybody. One of the most humble person's I've ever met in my whole life," Gomez said.

Garcia was the overnight manager at a McDonald's in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. At about 4:30 Monday morning, police say as he was leaving work for the day, Garcia asked a man who had been in the restaurant for hours to leave as well.

It was in the parking lot where the fatal confrontation took place. Garcia was stabbed in the torso several times.

Police sketch of the man wanted in the stabbing:

He managed to make it back into the restaurant and was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, but later died. His assailant, a man described by locals as "homeless" and a familiar face around there, fled.

"I'm surprised it led to someone actually dying, but as for an attack, no I'm surprised it's the first," said Debbie, an area resident.

One woman, who did not want to show her face, says aggressive panhandlers who appear to be homeless as well have long been an intimidating presence at the McDonald's, even though it sits just yards from the 50th Precinct.

Crime scene investigators spent much of the day there, cataloging evidence, talking to witnesses and reportedly viewing security camera video.

Meanwhile, a cousin who answered the door at Garcia's apartment described him as a family man, a loving son, and father.

"He always worked hard and tried his very best in everything. It's such a loss for the family right now," said Karen, the victim's cousin.

His co-workers are feeling the loss as well.

Diomedes Marcelino said that Garcia trained him when he worked at the McDonalds and the two eventually became good friends.

"He was patient. He joked around and basically he taught me what he knew," Marcelino said.

Police say the suspect is a man in his mid-30s wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans.